Window curtain



Feb- 9, 1954 M. A. LONDON ETAL WINDOW CURTAIN Filed Oct. 20, 1951INVENTOR. I9 MOR-rom n-LONDON By HERBEQT'LLoNvoN A Trop/vf Y PatentedFeb. 9, 1954 "WINDOW CURTAIN kvApplication" October 20, 1951,SerialvNo.l252,339

TSQCIaims. il invention relates generally ....to `drapediwindowvcurtainsiand is imore particularly; concerned )with r: an Y.improvedv ntie-backn construction :therefor f affording particular.yadvantage as .toi the (manufacture, .l maintenance /andnappearance s ofv sucharcurtain.

One-class lof .draped-,window curtains is char- ;acterizecl "by,a;tieback;v construction forming. f an ..integral .:.-part..ofl the,fcurtain. and inssuch ,class z'iteis common to sewzfopposecl. endrportions;,of-.a draw uembenandziagstrp,of: fabric; to; the innereedgezof :the: body` portion of the curtains from iwhence itheyg-.arel,extended ,1 transversely across the rzbody portion 4 or o :panel a to.the outer ,edge thereof, the strip of fabric .beingtfsewedtto theV-panelfto. form therewith; agpocket ;throughW-hich ithefldraw;memberyextends; freely. Certain-dis- ;advantages,ara-inherentirrthisfknown construcfition. l.One.disadvantage ,isithat inassembling/:the parts of thecurtain the-,operatorrfmust handle theistrip of-.Lpocket-iforming fabric: separately from 1 the:drawmembersvWhiehvtendsi toy make; the ,-oost of 'manufacturel higher .than itwou-ldotherwise be. Another disadvantage is that dirttengisito `.lodgeinthegpocket for :thedraw .-member, thus ymaking flaundering .diiicult.Still `another ldisadvantage is. that ifithedraw member doesnot liefflatbetweenthe. strip .of pocket-forming fabric .andl theA panel, `itisdifficult toiron the tmateral v,.inathe; prox-imitylofr thepocket, andVAonthe other v IlandJfthe drawrmember does lie. flat-,itisxlifi-:culttostraighten it out .when itbecornes twisted, .andit is.iin-possible to viron the' full -lengththereof. And ,still anotherdisadvantage, is that. When lvitloecomes necessary .to replacethe`.!.lraw.mem

ther, v4the stitches Vsecuring Lthe strip of pocket ,forming fabrictothe'inner edge of ','the panel, aswellas those securing `the drawlmember there- Lto,r mustVV be removed. `In addition, 'when the-curtainiswdrawn vup, the 'strip of pocketformng abricis gatheredon oneside ofthe draw' member and theipanelion 'the other; thus the bulkofthefstripvoftpocket 'forming fabric resists, or works againstv graceful'folding of the -.panel and tight .drawingthereof Accordingly, ity isan. object oi?` vthis invention 'tos provide a Window curtain `with a`tie-fback'con- .struction wherein the draw member and the-guide .meanstherefor may be handledtasa unit during the assembly .thereof ywith the-body portion or lpanel of the curtain.

Another object of this invention is to-provi'de a window curtain havingysuch-a tiesback con- ,struction and 4characterized-by freedom` from.,pockets whereinV dirt' mayA lodge.

Still another object of thisinvention istofprovide a 'window-curtainhaving suchfa tieeba'ck construction and-characte1izedby aguideineanshaving an lopen*construction-wlf1ich facilitates straighteningthe'drawmember and/ orironing 5 `itrthroughout"-itsull length.

`And* still another-object of this invention fis tol -prov-idev a-window--curtain having- -such-aftie @back -construction.and--characterized-byea 'tira-W member which "may `--be ureplaced AWithout any ,U uiecessityL Yfor-disturoing the Jguide mea-ns there- I,And another object of this invention is nto provide a- Window vcurtain-Witha= tie-backm'construction wherein when' the curtainv-iszdrawn up i5 #there-is' hof-gatheringsofcmaterialronnone :side of the'dra-W'memberwhich; fresistsfgracefulifolding off-the curtain on-:thenotherside,..ortoA resist rdrawingr the curtainlftightenoughtoggvea novel`draped appearance. f

Other objects and advantages of theepresent invention )will :appear morefully. hereinafter, it .being understood-that;the present ;inventiun;conssistsein .th ei combination,uconstrnction, location andrelativeearrangementt ofipartsaalleas f willbe 2 5fmoreggiully..ldescribed;hereinafterias is. shownzin :the accompanying`dra-.wirlssand will be; pointed -,outsirr.theappended claimsfn the.;aocornpanying drawing: i Eignre .1; istan; elevational view, ofva.-window curtain installation showingqan illustrative Lv(use of draped;curtains provided l"with a tie-backcongstruction., incorporating, .thepresent invention Figure 2Y isfan elevational View of an illustrative:.embqdimentbf the ,.present invention, the V.imrproved; curtainbeingsshownina ilat,position Wthfthetiefbackinoperative;

Figure` is a .viewsimilar to Figure/.2,... but .showingI .thecurtaingathered atl lits ,midporton by the tie-back;

Aig-urefi is-1an enlargedcross=sectiona1 per- `spective View `of a:portion of the .tiebach arrarigert-16:11.13,thisA view being ltakensubstantially `along v. the line' -lLof Eigurejz;

t Figuref, risian. enlarged view .showing the, con- ;struction ottheguide .meanslfor the ldraw" tape, ithe latter-being shown.assembledtherewi'th'for convenient :handling` .as a unit;

vfEigure 6 ,fis ,-an-enlarged .f cross-sectional view -1shovvingi-thetiez-backA in use,V :this view beinggtaken.substantiallytalong-ythegline: -,S;;,of Eigure A3 aand Vf .fligure 4 71; is 1a; fragmentary; elevational view .lof lthecurtain showingamodifiecl tieebackzarrange- 'mentfemploying aipairrof draw-tapes.

fLReferring to therfdraawingaitfwillzbeifseenuthat .55-curtainsl'lsufianda I Isfare identical in;;constructien 3 except thatthey are right and left hand, as will be obvious. A description ofcurtain I0, therefore, will sufice for a disclosure of any invention.

The curtain lil, as is clearly shown in Figure 2, comprises a bodyportion in the form of a panel I2 which is made of flexible material,and which has secured to its top a valance I3 provided'with a channeledportion I4, the latter having a curtain rod I6 passed therethrough. Theinner vertical edge I'I and the bottom edge I8 of the curtain IB areshown provided with an ornamental ruiile or fringe I9, while the outervertical edge 2I of the curtain I0 is shown Without a ruille.

Across a mid portion of the vpanel I2 extends an elongated tie-backconstruction 22 comprising a warp knitted band of material 23 and a drawtape 24. The band 23 comprises a pair of spaced parallel runs ofmaterial or headings 23 26 each formed by a warped strand alternatelymaking a series of short loops 2'I and then a pair of long loops 23,each pair of the latter constituting a transverse run of material thatis disposed to extend across to an opposed portion of the other heading,overlying the opposed portion for securement thereto by three parallelrunnings of chain stitched strands 23, the headings 2li-26 and thespaced pairs of long loops 28 thereby forming an open ladder-likestructure. The draw tape 24 is rove through the openings between theaforementioned spaced pairs of long loops 28 so that the latteralternately loverlie opposite faces of the draw tape, as clearly shownin Figure 5.

The band 23 is secured to the panel I2 by lines of stitches 36-36 alongthe full length of headings 2li- 26, and the inner end portion of drawtape 24 may be secured to the inner edge of panel I2 by the samestitches that secure the ruffle I9 thereto.

The draw tape 24 is of such a length that it protrudes outwardly beyondthe outer edge 2i of panel I2. By pulling on this protruding free end ofthe draw tape 24, the panel I2 and all of the warp knitted band 23except the long loops 28 which overlie the outside face of draw tape 24are gathered or folded on one side of draw tape 24, while the long loops28 which overlie the outside face of draw tape 24 are gathered on theother side thereof.

In use, the curtain I0, after being hung, is adjusted by means of thedraw tape 24 until the desired effect is obtained, after which the drawtape 24 may be secured to a suitable fastening device 32 in order tocause the curtain to hang with its outer edge 2I in a vertical position,or if free hanging of the curtain is desired, the securing may bedispensed with while the gathering is, nevertheless, retained.

If desired, a strip of ornamental material 3I may be disposed betweenthe tie-back construction 22 and the panel I2, the Warp knitted band ofmaterial 23 being sewed to the panel I2 through the ornamental strip ofmaterial 3l, as best shown in Figure 4, and in such case it will benoted that the ornamental strip of material 3I folds on one side of drawtape 24 with panel I2 and all of the warp knitted band 23 except thelong loops 28 which overlie the outside face of draw tape 24, while thelong loops 28 which overlie the outside face of draw tape 24 aregathered on the other side of draw tape 24, as best shown in Figure 6.Also, if desired, the strip of ornamental material 3| may be disposed onone side of the panel I2, While the tie-back construction 22 is disposedon the other side thereof, and in this case, too, the ornamental stripof material 3I folds on one side of draw tape 24 with panel I2 and allof the warp knitted band 23 except the long loops 28 which overlie theoutside face of draw tape 24, while the long loops 28 which overlie theoutside face of draw tape 24 are gathered on the other side of draw tape24.

In assembling the parts of the curtain, the operator may handle thetie-back construction 22 as a unit since the warp knitted band ofmaterial 23 can be furnished with the draw tape 24 already rove inplace. Also, it will be seen that the open construction of the warpknitted band of material 23 dispenses with pockets in which dirt mightlodge, which makes applicants arrangement desirable from the standpointof laundering. The open construction of the warp knitted band ofmaterial 23 is also desirable from the standpoint of ironing andstraightening out the draw tape 24 when it becomes twisted. With regardto ironing, since the draw tape 24 is flat there is no undue bulk toprevent proper ironing of the material in the proximity of the tie-backconstruction 22. In addition, the open construction of the warp knittedband of material 23 facilitates straightening out the draw tape 24throughout its entire length when it becomes twisted. Thus, it ispossible to iron the draw tape 24 in place, and, if desired, it may beseparated from the warp knitted band of material 23 by pulling itthrough at the inner edge I'I of panel I2, ironed throughout its entirelength, and then replaced. It will be seen that due to the open construetion of the Warp knitted band of material 23 and the fact that theheadings 26-26 thereof are secured to the panel I2 by stitches which areseparate from those securing the inner end portion of draw tape 24 tothe inner edge I'I lof panel I2, the draw tape 24 may be replacedWithout disturbing the warp knitted band of material 23.

It will also be seen that since there is never any bulk of material onone side of the draw tape 24, there is no resistance to graceful foldingof the material on the other side. In this connection, it will beobserved that the curtain may be drawn up tighter than would otherwisebe possible, and that, consequently, the curtain may be draped to give anovel appearance. Still further, it will be noted that the curtainpresents the same graceful folds Whether the tie-back construction 22 isdisposed on one side or the other thereof, and whether a strip ofornamental material 3| is used or not, either on the same side of thecurtain as the tie-back construction 22 or on the opposite side thereof.And still further, it will be noted Vthat the appearance of the folds isnot marred in any way by exposure of the tie-back construction 22 toview.

If desired, as shown in Figure 7, the tie-back arrangement of thepresent invention may include an additional draw tape 24 which extendsin closely spaced parallel relation to the tape 24, this additional tapebeing rove through and retained in position by its own warp knitted band23. The corresponding inner ends of both the tape 24 and its retainingband 23 are secured to the inner end of the curtain in the same manneras are the tape 24 and its band 23. In certain cases the band 23 may bewarp knitted as an integral part of the band 24, the resultant structurebeing so formed asto provide a pair of messias? @conditionbyfdrawi-nglthe'free endsofboth tapes izoutwardlyiofthe curtaini andthen tyingl themL-together; .preferably .intoutheiorm sofa aj decorativeisbow. knot.

:skilled -inf the art.unayfwinake:changes xin dihede- 1 `:.tailshereinvdescribed i and '-illu'strated -Withoutfde- =i=parting= :.from'f --thespirit: andi-scopesOff"` theinveni tion.- as expressed :m1-thaappendedfclaims. l It iis, thereordifi-ntendedithat Ithesey2dets'ililsf'behinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsensef"Vlffhatisy claimedJasr-new and useful is:

=1.L"Inawindow\curtairrof the draped type comprising abodyportionorpanelof lexiblematerial adapted' to Adependfromasupportingmember in a substantiallymngatheredcondition with:

innerand outer edges extending generally verticallyand, a exibletieback=,construction. com- L prising a,jdraw tape andguidinggmeanstherefor rextending across said panel Vlfrom said-innen tosaid outer,` edge, saidV guiding means including a` band of ymaterialhaving apairof spaced'generally parallel runs andsagpluralityof-.rela-tively spaced additional runs each extending transverselybetween said parallel runs, said draw tape being rove through theopenings between said spaced transversely extending additional runs andhaving an end portion secured to said inner edge of the panel, and saidgenerally parallel runs being secured to said panel along their entirelength.

2. In a window curtain of the draped type comprising a body portion orpanel of exible material adapted to depend from a supporting member in asubstantially ungathered condition with inner and outer edges extendinggenerally vertically and a flexible tie-back construction comprising adraw tape and guiding means therefor extending across said panel fromsaid inner to said outer edge, said guiding means including a warpknitted band having a pair of spaced generally parallel headings and aplurality of relatively spaced groups of strands each extendingtransversely between said headings, said draw tape being rove throughthe openings between said spaced transversely extending groups ofstrands and having an end portion secured to said inner edge of thepanel, and said generally parallel headings being secured to said panelalong their entire length.

3. In a window curtain of the draped type comprising a body portion orpanel of flexible material adapted to depend from a supporting member ina substantially ungathered condition with inner and outer edgesextending generally vertically and a exible tie-back constructioncomprising a draw tape and guiding means therefor extending across saidpanel from said inner to said outer edge, said guiding means including awarp knitted band having a pair of spaced generally parallel headingseach formed by a warped strand rendered sinuous by additional chainstitched strands, and each having a loop of said Warped strand at spacedportions therealong extending transversely therefrom and overlying theother of said headings to be secured thereto by said additional chainstitched strands associated therewith, said draw tape being rove throughthe openings between said spaced transversely extending loops and havingan end portion secured to said inner edge of the panel, and saidgenerally parallel lineari-ings sbeing ssecuredxito -ssaid Spaniel ealongitheir .r entre'ilen'gth. v

4. f In,` a windowmcurtain .of thefdrapedftypecomprising..ail-.bodyoportioir:orspanel::ofiiexiblama- -terial adapted :to depend'iromafsu-pporting memkber finza substantially ungatherediconditioniwithv innersand .routersedgeswextending, generallyevectically randaflexiblel:tiesback.constructionocoml lprising a @draw-'stap egand:guidingrmeans vtherefor i extending .acrossisaidvpanelflfromlsaidifinnerlito :said-outer ledge,.\ said;=fguidingimeansi in'oludingsa warp "knitted baridfha'ving aapain-.ofafspacedigen- -erallly parallel headings eacli'-tormedcbyeaxiwarped1'si'frandfh.caringA alternate 'groups hof?'shc 1iarid;-lor1g loopsfrendered sinuous by additional ficha-in stitched fstrands,L saidl longffloops beingidisposd to overlie the other ci said headings tobei-secured 1 thereto :by-'1 saidadditionalichain stitched: strands vassociated therewitnusaididrawi :tapelsbeingfrrove through'ftheopeningsf'be-tween said. groupsf-oialong loops-andliaving: an endportiontsecuredstoisaid inner' edge oir the panels andsaidggenerallywpar- -allelj headings beingf secured`V- to said#panelsalong their entire length.

- 5. in; a windowcurtain.ofv thedrapedtypewomprisingI a-f-bodyportionor-fpanelfioffflexiblenmaterial adapted to depend from-a supporting--member lin-a substantially;=ungathcred condi-tionavith inner and-outeredges-extending;-generally-vertically and av exibleitief-back-constructioncomprising a draw tape, guiding means for saiddraw tape, said guiding means and draw tape extending across said panelfrom said inner to said outer edge, said guiding means including a bandof material having a pair o spaced generally parallel runs and aplurality of relatively spaced additional runs each extendingtransversely between said parallel runs, said draw tape being rovethrough the opening between said spaced transversely extendingadditional runs, means securing an end portion of said dra-w tape tosaid inner edge of the panel, and separate means securing said generallyparallel runs to said panel along their entire length.

6. In a Window curtain of the draped type comprising a body portion orpanel of flexible material adapted to depend from a supporting member ina substantially ungathered condition with inner and outer edgesextending generally vertically and a flexible tie-back constructioncomprising a draw tape, guiding means for said draw tape, said guidingmeans and draw tape extending across said panel from said inner to saidouter edge, said guiding means including a band of material having apair of spaced generally parallel runs and a plurality of relativelyspaced additional runs each extending transversely between said parallelruns, said draw tape being rove through the openings between said spacedtransversely extending additional runs, stitches securing an end portionof said draw tape to said inner edge of the panel, and separate stitchessecuring said generally parallel runs to said panel along their entirelength.

7. In a window curtain of the draped type comprising a body portion orpanel of flexible material adapted to depend from a supporting member ina substantially ungathered condition with inner and outer edgesextending generally vertically and a flexible tie-back constructioncomprising a draw tape and guiding means therefor extending across saidpanel from said inner to said outer edge, said guiding means including aband of material having a pair of spaced generally parallel runs and aplurality of relatively cascate? spaced additional runs each extendingtransversely between said parallel runs, said draw tape being rovethrough the openings between said spaced transversely extendingadditional runs so that the latter lay alternately against the inner andouter opposite faces of said draw tape and having an end portion securedto said inner edge of the panel, said generally parallel runs beingsecured to said panel along their entire length, and said panel andguiding means, except for the outer ones of said additional runs,folding on one side of said draw tape while the outer ones of saidadditional runs gather on the other side of said draw tape when thecurtain is drawn,

there being no bulk of material between said outer ones of saidadditional runs to resist said folding.

8. In a window curtain of the draped type comprising a body portion orpanel of exible material adapted to depend from a supporting member in asubstantially ungathered condition with inner and outer edges extendinggenerally vertically and a ilexible tie-back construction comprising adraw tape and guiding means therefor extending across said panel fromsaid inner to said outer edge, said guiding means including a Warpknitted band having a pair of spaced generally parallel headings and aplurality of relatively spaced groups of strands each extendingtransversely between said headings, said draw tape being rove throughA4the openings between said spaced transversely extending groups ofstrands so that the latterlay alternately against the inner and outeropposite faces of said draw tape and having an endV portion secured tosaid inner edge of the panel, said generally parallel headings beingsecured to said panel along their entire length, and said panel andguiding means except for the outer one of said groups of strands,folding on one side of said draw tape while the outer ones of saidgroups of strands gather on the other side of said draw tape when thecurtain is drawn, there being no bulk of material between said outerones of said groups of strands to resist said folding.

MORTON A. LONDON. Y HERBERT I. LONDON.

References cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 698,205 Lewis Apr. 22, 1903 820,786 Henson May 15, 19081,934,452 Siegel Nov. 7, 1933 2,142,900 Hinlein et al. Jan. 3, 19392,275,273 Taylor Mar. 3, 1942 2,301,081 Rosenberg Nov. 3, 1942

